By Nanditesh Nilay
Before winter, autumn arrives, and so do leaders, turning the colors of life from orange to gold. They ensure that neither the leaves of togetherness in society would turn brown nor the smile of a common man.
The G-20 summit in India collectively agreed on one earth, one family and one future.
However, the world needs a number of virtuous leaders who can stand for peace as Bharat took a stand firmly for peace and prosperity for everyone across the globe.
And, here the space for that basic Socratic wisdom emerges: What kind of leadership the new year wishes for? A virtuous leader.
The early Greek philosophers were always interested in answering two questions:
· What is the world?
· What is a good person or a leader?
The titan trio of philosophers kept on searching for the answer to this question: who is a good leader?
Diogenes, as it has been mentioned, used to wander with a lamp on the road of Athens looking for that honest person or a good leader. In the way, these philosophers along with Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi puzzled over those values loaded questions like who are we and why are we here?
Finally, where are we heading?
Even great Socrates believed that good is the ultimate form of truth and all other values such as justice or courage are relevant when they are related to goodness or the good.
Finally, they conclude that only those who are entitled to lead the state are philosopher-kings and possess the moral strength to act for the common good. Apart from being a man of values, a leader as Plato asserts always practices silence and scientific eloquence. There must be healthier communication by a virtuous leader which can always disseminate compassion, respect and teach virtue to all the people across.
Who can forget the first line of Mark Antony’s speech in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears……..I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is often interred with their bones….Caesar was my friend, faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious. And Brutus is an honorable man….”. A virtuous leader is counted and so is his or her communication.
There is a mention in the book ‘Bharat’ by Roman Rolland. Roman Rolland asked one of Gandhi’s associates, Pearson, ‘How is Gandhi’s voice?’ replied Pearson, ‘Gandhi’s voice was low. He didn’t even speak louder than what we’re talking about here. ‘So can’t his voice be heard?’Roman asked. ‘No, people did not listen to his voice. The eyes of the crowd were fixed on his lips.’ said Pearson.
People shout, speak loudly on the microphone, but others cannot hear anything; it is too far to understand. Mahatma used to utter slowly, very slowly, and gradually so slow that even listening became difficult, but there was never any confusion in the understanding of the people, the people of the whole of India, the people of different languages. Gandhi with the image of truthfulness was beyond those words and sounds: a good human being and a good leader.
Now when we see the issue of virtuous leadership in an organization; we can conclude that high performing organizations or individuals are built on core moral principles. And therefore the need is for a committed leadership for implementing a values and ethics framework first rather than running the business through a competency framework only.
Problems are due to fading of values and therefore organizations and institutions need a value framework first rather than competency framework. Organizations have to focus on the quality and ethical aspect of their product and custom experience but what about the values and ethics of their people? They must try to mark the ethical presence of their team in the business world. Mumbai Dabbawala is one of the greatest examples. And the Chairman of the organization is responsible for carving that path of good leadership which can be followed by everybody. Even Maruti Suzuki, Tatas, ABG group, Infosys, Wipro are now taking the business ethics training as their first priority.
As Vivekananda asserted, “Values are like water drops. It must reach the top first, and economic benefit is like smoke. It must reach the bottom first.” In Vedanta teachings it has been confirmed that the purpose of business is to serve society and making money is a by-product of the service. Leading with values is a higher forming self of awareness. As it has been rightly said by Thomas Charley, “The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none” Thomas Teal confirms that “Great Managers serve two masters; one organization, one morale.”
Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Charles Munger, Bill Gates brought the variable of virtues in leadership, global. In India, after Tatas, Birlas, the emergence of Wipro, Infosys, Reliance, Vedanta, Apollo Hospitals, Maruti Suzuki was something very special for this country. Ratan Tata and Kumar Mangalam Birla convinced all of us that there is a difference between the act of trading and doing business.
And, a businessman is nobody but a trustee and custodian of social wealth. Who can forget the contribution of Great Premji? He returned. Narayan Murthy came with the idea of providing this country with a company founded on ethics & values. He believed that being educated means we are assuming responsibility to show fairness to the less fortunate; to create a future that posterity can be proud of. We all are the mere temporary custodians of the wealth we generate, whether it is financial, intellectual or emotional. The best use of all our wealth is to share with the less fortunate.
Parents and Teachers of today must have something fundamental to share with children in the form of values. The forming period of a child is spent with parents and teachers. Why not construct the heroes with ethics, human values and later with competencies?
Nothing is better and brighter than qualifying as a good human being in front of our parents, teachers and behind those who are unknown to us. It will give an insight to the children to find a vision as a youth and thus become victorious with the giant leap for humanity.
After spending years and years leaders have to find their service center where they can get away from their ego, envy and unethical pursuits. And that is the self.
Finally, leaders bring that world for all of us which the hard domineering eyes cannot see, where virtues are valued, where human beings become significant, where dreams become reality, where poverty loses its historical introduction, where hunger is no more, where hate gets defeated by courage and truthfulness, where citizens become a human being first, where happiness becomes the purpose, where ethics overpowers the power, where values craft the vision, mission and conduct, where becoming good human being becomes the top most virtue – there and there only virtuous leadership emerges as a beacon of hope for humanity.
And, New Year needs nothing less than virtues.
Nanditesh Nilay is the author of the books, Being Good, Aaiye, Insaan Banaen & Ethikos-stories searching happiness. He is an alumni of IIT Delhi and Doctoral Fellow, ICSSR. He writes, teaches and trains courses on ethics, values and behavior.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times
